Jets shake up kicking plans ahead of Week 1
The Jets appeared to be moving toward Jason Sanders as their Week 1 kicker after Cade York was released during training camp. Just days later, however, New York claimed Blake Grupe off waivers and changed the picture heading into the regular season.
Sanders remained with the organization on the practice squad after his release, while Grupe joined the active roster. The Jets have continued evaluating kickers ahead of their season opener.
Sanders returned after missing 2025
Sanders signed with the Jets in June after spending seven seasons with the Dolphins. He missed the entire 2025 season because of a hip injury and returned to NFL action during the 2026 preseason.
Through his seven seasons with Miami, Sanders made 187 of 221 field-goal attempts for an 84.6% career rate. He ranks third in Dolphins history with 826 points and owns the franchise’s highest field-goal percentage among players with at least 50 attempts.
Cade York exited the competition
York signed with the Jets in March and competed with Sanders during camp. He made 2 of 2 field-goal attempts against Tampa Bay, missed a 59-yard try in Pittsburgh and made 3 of 5 attempts in practice on Aug. 24.
The Jets released York on Aug. 25 after he went 2 of 3 on field-goal attempts during the preseason. York entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by Cleveland in 2022 and later spent time with Tennessee, Washington, the Giants and Cincinnati.
Sanders struggled in the preseason finale
On Aug. 28, Sanders missed an extra point and a 54-yard field-goal attempt against the Giants. The field-goal try came up short during New York’s 23-6 preseason loss at MetLife Stadium.
That performance came three days after the Jets identified Sanders as their kicker. He finished the preseason with 2 field goals made on 3 attempts and 2 extra points made on 3 attempts.
The Jets reopened the kicking competition
After the Giants game, head coach Aaron Glenn said the Jets would address the kicking situation. The team used the waiver process after NFL clubs completed their 53-man roster moves.
New York claimed Blake Grupe from the Colts on Aug. 31 and released Sanders later that day. The Jets then added Sanders to their practice squad, keeping him with the organization while changing the plan.
Blake Grupe arrived from Indianapolis
Grupe spent the 2025 season with the Saints and Colts before joining the Jets. Indianapolis released him on Aug. 30, one day before New York claimed him off waivers.
With the Colts, Grupe appeared in five games and made all 11 field-goal attempts. His total included a 60-yard field goal against Seattle, Indianapolis’ longest field goal of 2025.
Grupe has three seasons of NFL experience
Grupe entered the NFL in 2023 as an undrafted player who signed with New Orleans. He played 45 games for the Saints before joining Indianapolis for the final five games of 2025.
Across 50 NFL games, Grupe has made 86 of 105 field-goal attempts, an 81.9% rate. He has converted 96 of 98 extra-point attempts and owns a career-long field goal of 60 yards.
His 2025 numbers improved in Indianapolis
Grupe made 18 of 26 field-goal attempts with the Saints in 2025 before his November release. He later joined Indianapolis and finished the season with a perfect 11-for-11 field-goal record.
His Colts stretch included three successful field goals from 50 to 59 yards and one from 60 yards. Those results gave Grupe a 100% field-goal rate across his five games with Indianapolis.
Sanders remains in the organization
Although Sanders was released on Aug. 31, the Jets signed him to their practice squad that same day. The Jets listed Sanders among their 2026 practice-squad additions following the roster cutdown.
Sanders remains with the organization while Grupe occupies the active-roster kicker spot. The Jets’ Sept. 2 update described the kicker position as an ongoing competition after Grupe’s arrival.
Interesting fact: Nick Folk remains one of the most accurate kickers in Jets history. During his 2025 return to New York, he made 96.6% of his field-goal attempts and all 22 extra-point attempts.
The change came during roster cutdowns
The Jets made the kicker change after the league’s roster deadline passed. NFL teams had to reduce their active rosters to the limit, creating opportunities to claim players released by other clubs.
New York used the waiver wire to add Grupe while changing the kicker roster. The Jets also acquired Jordan Meredith from the Raiders for a 2027 sixth-round pick and received a 2029 seventh-round pick.
Interesting fact: The Jets have had several memorable long-distance field goals in recent years. Greg Zuerlein set the franchise record with a 60-yard field goal in 2022, surpassing Chandler Catanzaro’s previous 57-yard mark.
Nick Folk’s departure started the search
The Jets entered the offseason needing a primary kicker after Nick Folk left as a free agent. Folk joined the Falcons after leading the NFL with a 96.6% field-goal rate in 2025.
Folk had returned to the Jets in 2025 and made 28 of 29 field-goal attempts. His departure led New York to hold a competition involving several kickers before Sanders and York became the primary candidates.
The Jets have changed kickers before Week 1
Grupe is the Jets’ active-roster kicker after the Aug. 31 waiver claim. Sanders remains with the organization on the practice squad following his release, while New York prepares for its opener.
The Jets are scheduled to open the 2026 season at Tennessee on Sept. 13. The team moved from Sanders winning the kicking competition to Grupe joining the active roster six days later.
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Grupe’s recent accuracy is part of the evaluation
Grupe’s final five games of 2025 came with Indianapolis after his release from New Orleans. He made all 11 field-goal attempts and all 10 extra-point attempts during that five-game stretch.
His Indianapolis run included successful field goals from the 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 and 60-yard ranges. The Jets acquired him after the Colts waived him during their Aug. 30 roster moves.
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What do you think about the Jets’ decision to change kickers just days after Jason Sanders won the job? Like this slideshow if you followed the latest twist, and comment.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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